[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6784]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     SENATE RESOLUTION 166--COMMEMORATING MAY 8, 2011, AS THE 66TH 
       ANNIVERSARY OF V-E DAY, THE END OF WORLD WAR II IN EUROPE

  Mr. JOHANNS (for himself, Mr. Begich, and Mr. Lautenberg) submitted 
the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 166

       Whereas on December 11, 1941, 4 days after the Japanese 
     attack on Pearl Harbor, Germany and Italy declared war on the 
     United States;
       Whereas on November 8, 1942, United States and Allied 
     forces began Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa;
       Whereas German and other Axis forces in North Africa 
     surrendered on May 13, 1943;
       Whereas in July of 1943, United States and Allied forces 
     landed in Sicily;
       Whereas on September 8, 1943, Italy surrendered to United 
     States and Allied forces, although German troops in Italy 
     continued to fight until May of 1945;
       Whereas more than 150,000 Allied soldiers landed in France 
     on June 6, 1944, known thereafter as ``D-Day'';
       Whereas on August 25, 1944, United States and Allied forces 
     liberated Paris;
       Whereas from mid- to late- December, during the Battle of 
     the Bulge, United States troops heroically resisted a major 
     German offensive in Belgium and France;
       Whereas United States troops crossed the Rhine River at 
     Remagen on March 7, 1945;
       Whereas Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Western 
     Allies at Reims on May 7, 1945, and to the Soviet Union on 
     May 9, 1945, in Berlin;
       Whereas during World War II, an estimated 292,000 members 
     of the United States Armed Forces were killed in action and 
     more than 400,000 members of the United States Armed Forces 
     died; and
       Whereas United States President Harry S. Truman declared 
     May 8, 1945, ``V-E day'', the end of World War II in Europe, 
     although war with Japan continued until August 14, 1945: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the historic contribution made by United 
     States veterans of World War II to human liberty and the 
     safety of the United States and its allies;
       (2) honors veterans who served in the European Theatre of 
     Operations and elsewhere during World War II;
       (3) remembers with gratitude the members of the United 
     States Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice during 
     World War II; and
       (4) commemorates May 8, 2011, as the 66th anniversary of V-
     E Day, the end of World War II in Europe.

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